Vital Observations Flashcards
Where can an oxygen saturation probe be placed?
Finger, nose, toe, earlobe and forehead.
What does an oxygen saturation probe monitor?
The % of haemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen.
What can affect an oxygen saturation reading?
Nail polish, cold temperature and dirty sensors.
What can influence blood pressure?
Age, sleep, activity, emotion and running
What is systolic blood pressure (top)?
Measures the force of blood when your heart contracts, measuring peak force of blood.
What is diastolic blood pressure (bottom)?
Measures when the heart relaxes between beats. The force on the walls of the arteries as the heart reflexes and refills.
Which artery do you place the stethoscope over when taking blood pressure?
The brachial artery.
What part of the body controls temperature?
The hypothalamus.
Which ways can you take temperature?
Tympanic (ear), nasopharyngeal (nose), esophageal (oesophagus), rectal (anus), axillary (armpit), sublingual (under tongue), buccal (cheek), temporal artery (forehead).
What are the most common ways to take a child’s temperature?
Tympanic (ear) and axillary (armpit).
What is a normal capillary refill time?
2 seconds or less.
How long do you apply pressure to the nail bed when checking capillary refill time?
5 seconds.
What factors can prolong capillary refill time?
Age, cold surroundings, poor lighting, reduced tissue perfusion, hypovolemic shock, circulatory disease and dehydration.
Capillary refill time assess’ peripheral perfusion, what is this?
Blood flow to the tissues in the extremities.
What is a pulse?
Pressure wave of blood caused by alternating expansion and recoil of arteries during each cardiac cycle.
How many pulse points does the body have?
8.
What pulse points are usually used for a child and a baby?
Carotid=child, brachial=baby.
What can a pulse indicate?
A base measurement to monitor fluctuations.
What does a pulse rate show?
How fast the heart is beating.
What does the rhythm of the pulse show?
Sequence of beats, regular or irregular.
What does the amplitude of a pulse show?
Strength of pulse: weak, faint or pounding.
What is a respiration rate?
Observation of inspiration and expiration over 60 seconds.
What can respiration rate indicate?
Early indicator of acute illness, monitor fluctuations,
evaluate treatment.
What is the function of respiration?
To ensure that the tissues and cells of the body receive sufficient oxygen to support the process of aerobic metabolism and the removal of carbon dioxide, the waste product of metabolism.
What is the difference between external and internal respiration?
External = exchange at capillary level, internal = metabolism at cellular level.
What does the rate of respiration show?
The type/quality of respiration.
What does the depth of respiration show?
The volume of air moving in and out the lungs.
What does the pattern of respiration show?
Changes in pattern are often due to problems with the brain.
What are accessory muscles in respiration?
The muscles not used in normal breathing, used to increase lung expansion, sign of distress.
